Yes – that’s right – I’m going to talk about our menstrual cycles and the environment! Inappropriate – who the hell cares – it’s my time of the month and I’m allowed to talk about anything I want!
(Sipping my glass of wine)
Ahhhh – so much better! I decided that since it was that time of the month I would take this opportunity to talk about the health and environmental concerns of using disposable feminine products. I’m really the LAST person to talk to you about this though – because I’m still using disposables! That’s right – The Eco Chicstill uses PLASTIC TAMPONS and occasionally a few pads! Don’t be hating, after-all it’s my time of the month and I just may come hunt you down! And do what? Probably pour you a glass of wine too because misery loves company. Anyways – back on the topic at hand.
The Facts: Just like disposable diapers, disposable feminine products like pads and tampons are not healthy for us. Pads contain SAP very similar to what is found in disposable diapers. We don’t want those chemicals next to our babies then why do we want them next to our most precious part of our body? And why on (Mother) earth are we stuffing tampons made of BLEACHED wood pump and rayon INSIDE of our bodies? It’s no wonder that so many women in America are faced with cervical cancer and other conditions. As if the health concerns aren’t bad enough – Americans trash 20 BILLION of these things EACH YEAR into our landfills. Have you ever been to a landfill or a waste water treatment facility? Tampons alone (which claim to be biodegradable and flushable) end up clogged in the screens and filters at the waste water facilities – and surprisingly to most they eventually end up in the landfill anyways. Finally, think about all the money we’re literally FLUSHING down the toilet each month.
WHY? Because that’s what our parents told us to do. Just like disposable diapers – our parents generation were among the first to use these disposable products and they considered them a convenient alternative. It’s certainly easier to flush your waste away and never worry about it again. Store shelves are full of different options – junior, regular, heavy flow, SUPER, compact, wings – HOLY MENSES – how did this become so complicated! We’re now even seeing some without applicators and unbleached to make us feel even better about sticking stuff in our VAJAYJAYs.
The Alternative: YES – we have another choice! Just like cloth diapers – we go old school! Thanks to companies like Luna Pads and Diva Cups (and many others) we have reusable alternatives for pads and tampons. I had the pleasure of giving Luna Pads a try (kinda) recently and think I’m ready to buy a few more (mostly for the overflow events that can wreck even your darkest pair of jeans). Now I only have one at the moment (the pantyliner) but they are available in conventionally grown and organic cotton varieties. They come in really edgy and fun prints and patterns that can make anyone a little more cheery during those grumpy days. They even come in a hybrid variety for an even more absorbent option. Each Luna Pad is held in place by a snap on the wings that wrap around your panties.
Want to go one step further? How about the Lunapanties – with built in panels for holding your Luna Pads. The panties are available in all the hip modern cuts too – even a thong!
The EXTREME: If the thought of washing these reusable products grosses you out then maybe the Diva Cup is right for you. The Diva Cup is made of a soft silicone (all FDA approved, latex-free, BPA-free, and plastic free). And if inserted properly (yes – it goes IN there just like a tampon – or so they say) should last for up to 12 hours before it needs to be emptied. I have to admit that this option is the most appealing to me because there are no extra loads of laundry to do.
So why haven’t I made the switch yet? Probably because it’s not the norm – not yet at least. I don’t know anyone who has used them personally. When talking to my spouse about the options he gets grossed out. Again our society has made reusable options seem so disgusting that we’re afraid to try them. And for most of us – you can’t find them filling up the shelves at the local drug store as a viable option. BUT – that’s about to change! I pledge to you – my readers – and my friends – to DITCH THE DISPOSABLES! It’s too late for me to change this month but I’m going to go (right now) and order my very own Diva Cup and Luna Pads for next month. I’m going to have my arsenal ready to go by this time next month. MARK YOUR CALENDARS and PLEASE – ASK ME ABOUT IT!
And please – join me in a glass of wine in hopes that I don’t bite the head off my husband as he sleeps tonight because he doesn’t understand the mood swings that accompany our monthly treat!
How do you manage that time of the month? What helps you feel better when your hormones are raging? Leave me a comment – or at least laugh with me!
Disclosure:Luna Pads was a sponsor of the Green Blogger Soiree at BlogHer last month and provided us with samples of their pantyliners. I am currently on my period and I was extremely tired and cranky when I decided to write this post. I did bite my husbands head off for no reason and got all stressy and bithcy over nothing! That’s what happens to me each month – but it’s very mild compared to the side effects that others may experience. I did laugh over some text messages with my BFF while writing this post and I feel much better (and less cranky) now. I hope you enjoyed my attempt at cranky humor and honesty!
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I’m bummed to see no comments on this post! I actually just found your blog through Rockin’ Green’s Facebook page and was happy to see that a search of your site did provide mention of the Diva Cup. I just heard about them last month and nearly immediately (withing a few hours) ordered one. Just finished using it this month. And it’s seriously fantastic! Make the switch. You won’t regret it.
It’s a bit tricky at first and I found myself not wanting to have to change it (every 12 hours was plenty for me) but I always feel the same way about tampons. And at first it struck me as gross to be in such close contact with those, ahem, fluids. However, I quickly realized that tampons would seem just as gross if I hadn’t been using them for years. And you change the Diva Cup a whole lot less frequently than a tampon. Oh, and once it’s in correctly, you seriously can’t feel it at all. Not at all. So it’s not like a tampon in that way. And I didn’t have any of that typical monthly odor that probably only I notice anyway, which was at least more pleasant for me.
If it’s within your budget to order one today, do it. No joke. You won’t even need the Luna Pads (not to knock on them…get ’em if you’re really into pads…but you won’t need them at all if you use the Diva Cup).